TAMPA BAY – The Tampa Bay Lightning have reassigned forward Richard Panik to the Syracuse Crunch of the American Hockey League, vice president and general manager Steve Yzerman announced today.

Panik, 22, has skated in nine games with the Lightning this season, registering a goal and eight shots. The Martin, Slovakia native scored his first career NHL goal on February 23 at Carolina in a 5-2 Lightning victory. Panik’s goal turned out to be the game-winning score. The 6-foot-1, 208-pound forward has appeared in 43 games with the Crunch this season, notching 21 goals and 35 points to go along with a +19 rating. He currently ranks third on Syracuse in goals and is tied for fifth in points.

Panik was originally selected by Tampa Bay in the second round, 52nd overall, in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft.